Former president A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, on Thursday, stressed the need to establish a military-industrial complex involving large private industries, with a view to strengthening the long-term defense strategy and defense industry growth.

“The need of the hour is to establish a military-industry complex (MIC) at the national level enlisting large and medium industries to be partners along with defence PSUs (public sector units) as its members,” Kalam said at an Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) meeting.

“Establishment of MIC envisages not only the industrial development but also creates a number of job opportunities. This will pave way for knowledge workers to participate and contribute in the production of high-quality systems,” he added.

Kalam, who has been a scientist and science administrator at the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO), further said that regulations and control procedures are to be implemented in managing private industries for manufacturing defence systems.

He also said that encouraging high technology tie-ups and joint ventures between Indian and other global defence industries will achieve not only competitiveness but also envisage the product for export.

Emphasising the urgency of the situation, Kalam said that India cannot afford to lose anymore time in pondering the issue.

Nearly 56 percent of corporate employees in India sleep less than six hours a day due to high-stress levels that arise out of tough targets set by their employers, an Assocham Healthcare Committee report said here on Monday.

Findings of the report pointed out that sleep deprivation costs $150 billion a year due to higher stress and reduced workplace productivity. The work performance pressure, peer pressure, difficult boss — all of this is taking a toll on the physical and mental health of people, it said.

About 46 percent of the Indian workforce suffer from some form of stress, according to the survey. Pexels